Buenos Aires 3/2/20

Another early morning departure after a very late arrival so we didn’t see much of Buenos Aires. What we did see as we drove back to the airport for our flight to Iguaza was enough to make me want to return. Beautiful buildings interspersed with many parks, especially in the Palermo section. This, according to our newly acquired guide, is the wealthy section of town with all the more noted gardens – Rose, Botanical and now I forget the third. No time to tour them in any case. Back to the airport which is under going renovations, navigate baggage check in, security check (nothing like US. you can take all the food and liquid you want. no taking shoes off. Piece of cake really.) Tommy keeps worrying about his metal knees. Insist on alerting them to their existence only to receive an unconcerned shrug. Anyway after some delay (Thus far on this trip, we travelers seem to be the only ones concerned with any kind of schedule. Must learn to be as laid back as these folks.) we board our plane. Our destination is The Falls themselves. We fly over the most beautiful, pristine, lush, massive, intensely green forest I have ever seen. Even the plantations were cultivating pine trees. The soil appeared to be the same as good ole East Texas red clay. We soon learned that this was the Atlantic Rain Forest which surrounded the Falls and the National Park protecting the falls. Upon landing at the tiny Iguaza airport we were taken directly to the Park. Here you had several options, maybe. If you had worn your swimsuit on the plane from Buenos Aires, had no visible scars, were perceived by the park authorities to be able bodied, did not need a cane or other assistance walking, could hear adequately without hearing aides, and chose to traverse many, many steps you could board a Zodiac boat which took you literally under the falls. Seems the boat became something like a swimming pool and everyone on the boat got soaked. I had chosen not to wear my swimsuit under my clothing all day and never could get a confirmation as to the number of steps-some guides said 232 down and 232 back up, others oh, about a hundred each way but no handrail many places, etc- decided on one of the other options. Tommy, of course, was out due to the hearing aides and knees not to mention the swimsuit issue. So, we took the upper trail to the top of the falls. Supposedly a mile out, a mile back, in total maybe 1 hour. No way. Far too many breathtaking scenes along the way to keep to that schedule. Mere words cannot do justice to the majesty God has created here! Animals abound. Fish not too plentiful but monkeys, long nose raccoons, birds and other of God’s creatures enjoy this Eden. Thankfully, humans have done relatively little damage here. Ones senses are assaulted by the sights, sounds and power of nature. You all really must see this for yourselves! If a personal visit is not possible for some reason, the next best thing and it truly is a distant second is to watch the movie “The Missions” with Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons. It will give you a hint of the depth and majesty of these natural wonders. Our recently acquired guide, Tattia, says they were formed by 1.5 million years of erosion. Volcanic rock form the sheer cliffs.

Once we had completed our stroll through this amazing creation, we were hurried onto our bus to pick up those who had taken the Zodiac then off to our hotel for the next two nights. The Loi Suites Iguazu Hotel is located in aforementioned rain forest. It is an ecological structure very sensitive to all environmental issues. From construction materials to furniture to food. Paradise! There is a hotel lobby with a long if not deep pool in the center, meeting and dining areas and computers for those who simply can’t be off the grind. Then the rooms are in four separate buildings connected to the hotel by suspension bridges. Early mornings if one is very lucky an occasional Tucan may seranade you. Flowers almost as plentiful as the massive trees. As I said, paradise. We were served a delicious buffet before returning to our rooms to collapse. After all tomorrow is another adventure in the falls.

While traveling thru the rain forest and National Park (Argentina side) we saw indigenous people walking along the narrow roadway carrying children and/or supplies. Also many preteens and younger riding bikes, playing ball, etc. The Argentine government gave four native tribes land in what is now the protected rain forest. They are given a stipend to care and maintain the land as well as themselves herein.

Today IS someday. Please don’t waste it.